TNAG-2291-FCO40-3300-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Taiwan-1991 — Page 67

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4514

MDLIAN 9446

AS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TAIPEI TRADE CENTRE SHOULD BE PREVENTED IN FUTURE SO AS TO MAINTAIN THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG.

4. RIORDAN UNDERTOOK TO REPORT CHENG'S COMMENTS. HAVING SPELT OUT CLEARLY FOR CHENG'S BENEFIT THE COMMITMENTS HMG HAD MADE TO CHINA ON THE QUESTION OF TAIWAN IN 1972, RIORDAN REASSURED CHENG THAT BOTH HMG AND HKG CONTINUED TO STAND FIRMLY BY THESE COMMITMENTS. REGISTRATION OF COMPANIES IN HONG KONG WAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF HONG KONG LAW. HKG WOULD CONTINUE TO ABIDE STRICTLY BY THE LAW OF HONG KONG IN SUCH MATTERS. THE BRITISH SIDE WERE ALSO COMMITTED TO HONG KONG'S FUTURE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. AN ELEMENT OF THAT PROSPERITY WAS A RESULT OF TRADE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND TAIWAN, IN PARTICULAR TRADE BETWEEN MAINLAND CHINA AND TAIWAN WHICH PASSED THROUGH HONG KONG. IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THAT TRADE WAS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.

COMMENT

5. THE PERFUNCTORY NATURE OF THIS DEMARCHE, AND THE RELATIVELY JUNIOR LEVEL AT WHICH IT WAS DELIVERED, MAY INDICATE THAT THE CHINESE DO NOT WISH TO MAKE TOO MUCH OF THIS FOR THE TIME BEING. HOWEVER, THEY REMAIN NEURALGIC ABOUT TAIWAN, AND, AS WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE CASE OF SEPARATED ASAS, THE ISSUE CAN BLOW UP WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT.

COATES

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

57

.CHINA TRADE

LIMITED

FED

JOINT DIRECTORATE

EAPD/ODA

ECONOMIC ADVISERS

ERD

ESAU

ESED

HK ..

ADDITIONAL

CHINA TRADE

~~~~

16.

DISTRIBUTION

73

PAGE

NPDD

RAD

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PS/PUS

SIR J COLES

MR MILES

MR BURNS

MR SLATER

MR MANNING

2

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